Apparatus for preparing sheet metal to be welded



Feb. 19, 1935. v E. TURNQUIST 1,991,642

7 APPARATUS FOR PREPARING SHEET METAL TO BE WELDED Original Filed Jan. 6, 1930 INVENTOR MMQ $5 ATTORNEY,

Patented Feb. 19, 1 9 35 UNITED sT-ATEs 1,991,'642 APPARATUS FOR PREPARING SHEET METAL V v 'TOBE WELDEI) p Edward Turnquist, Anderson, 11rd,, assi gnor by mesne assignments,,.to General Motors Cor- 'poration, Detroit,vMich., a corporation of Delaware PATENT, oFFic-E Original application January 6, 1930, Serial No.

418,912, now Patent No. 1,924,220,, dated August a 29, 1933. Divided and this,application August 24,1933, Serial No. 686,521 V H 13 Claims. (01.153 2) This invention relatesto the manufacture'of rims for. the doors oielectric lamps, forvehicles and particularly for automobile head lamps.

It is an object of the present invention to pro- 5 vide suitable apparatus for the pursuance of the suiiicientmaterial for forming. one rim, allow-' ing for trimming the abuttingedges after cutting the helix into parts of one turn each.. The next step is to cut the helix of formed material into parts of one turn each, to corrugate the end portions of each-turn in preparation of an alternating butt and lap weld,-and to trim the end edges thereof so that the circumference of each turn is that of a lamp door rim when said end portions are welded together. Finally, while the abutting edges are maintained in engagement under pressure, a Welding current is applied in order to cause the end portions of a turn to be Welded together.

' It is more particularly the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for corrugating the end portions of each turn and'trimming the end edges thereof, these operations being steps of :the above mentioned method which is covered in my copending application Serial No. 418,912, filed January 6, 1930.

The application is therefore a division ofmy copending application Serial No. 418,912, filed January 6, 1930, which is now Patent No.'1,924,220 issued August 29, 1933; Y

. In the drawings: I

'Fig. lYis a fragmentary'perspective viewof apparatus 'for trimming the end edges f of each turn'of rim material and for shaping the surfaces to beioine'd as.shownirrFig.5.

Fig. 2 is .a perspective view showingthe apparatus for: cutting thehelix of -material into parts of one turn each. g

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, Jfragmentary' sectional view taken on the. line 3-3 of Fig. 21'

Fig. 4 is a view similar toFig. 3 disclosing, however, a. completed cutting: operation. ':.Fig. 5 is a' fragmentary perspective View showing howthe abutting vvends of each turn of the helix, are. cutand shaped prior to being joined togetheribyzwelding. j 'jFig. =6 discloses the intermediate crosssectional contour of azturn. x I l Fig.1.? is a cross section through. a -turn after havingbeen, shaped into the required crosssectional. contour.

The formation ofa strip of; sheet material into a helix of the intermediate cross sectional contour shown in Fig..'6.is .disclosed.and specifically described in my copending application Serial No. 418,9l2filed January. :6, I930, whichisnow PatentNo. 1,924,220,.issuednugust 29, 19,33;

The dividing of the helix of intermediate cross sectional contour into lengths '32 of one turn each is effected by apparatus such as tshownrin Fig. 2. Forthe sake of. clearness, only the-end turn 32 of. the helix is shownin position. It'will benoted'that the turn 32 is located'withiniacylindrical work holder 33 adaptedto receive. and support one end of thehelix, while'the other end which extends away from the apparatusmay be supported by any suitable means, (not shown) Numeral 34- indicates one end of the turn :32, and numeral 35 indicates the other end which has been sheared'from the remaining portion of 1 the helix (which is omitted'for sake of clearness) by a shear-punch '36, both side edges of which are cuttingedges as the punch cooperates with a pair .ofpara'llelshearing dies 3'7 andy38 to cut out a slug of; rim material having a width correspond-v ing to the distance between thedies 3'7-ar1d-38. Both die members 37- a'nd 38 areprovided'with notches .39located in staggered relation-in orderthat the material adjacent the end'edges of the turn of-material cut off will be fomied roughly'into'the shape shown in Fig. .4. The workholder 33-1 is supported by a base block 40' secured to the bed 41 of apunch press having a vertically reciprocating head 42 which supports the, punch 36. I

The abutting edge portions to be joined are trimmed and shaped into the form shown in Fig.

5'by the apparatus shown in-Fig. l." This trimming apparatus comprises a work holder bracket attached to the bed.51 of a punch press which has a vertically reciprocating head 52,'carrying. a forming die and shearing member 53 which cooperates witha pair of companion die :and shearing members 54 and 55 supported byblock '56 carried byv the bracket-50. Bracket 50 carries a cylindrical rim support or arbor 5'7 against which .a. turn of lamp rim material may be held by the larcuate clamping members-58 and 59 which are attached respectively .to levers J 60 and 61 pivotally suported by the bracket 50. The appae ratus being. in the position .shown. ini Fig. -1, the operator placesa turn'32 of rim material upon the arbor 57 with; its. diametrically smallest peripheral edge resting against the reduced portion 57a of said arbor and'with the ends of the material resting upon the members 54 and 55 and overlying the space 63 between these members. Then the clamps 58 and 59 are moved against the turn 32 in order to clamp it firmly against the arbor 5'7 and to cause the desired amount of material to be trimmed off at thetime the end portions are formed, as shown inFig. 5. It will be noted that the member 53 cooperates with members 54 and 55 to trim off both end edges of the turn 32 to the shape shown in Fig. 5 and also to deepen the roughly pre-formed corrugations in the end portions so that each end portion is provided with a series-of notches or corrugations 64 located in staggered relation with the leys 64, ridges 65, it will be noted that each valley 7 64 of one edge portion is immediately opposite a ridge portion 65 of the other edge portion. The depth of the valleys 64 of the end'edges is slightly more than the thickness of the material and decreases in depth proceeding from the end edge.

Aftera turn has been trimmed by the apparatus shown in Fig. 1,.the same is shaped into the required cross sectional contour shown in Fig. '7 by forming the peripheral flange portion 32a into the flangeportion 32b: and thereafter the ends of the turn are joined by welding in the manner .disolosed and described in my referred. copending application. o While the form of embodiment .of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow. Whatis claimed is as follows:

.Apparatus for preparing portions "of sheet metal to. be welded edge to edge comprising, in combination, cooperating die members for deforming the cross-sectional contour of a portionincluding an edge .to be welded; and a-workholder, having means for aligning the portions andfor holding a portion to be deformed in a position to be operated upon by the die members. 2. v lpparatu's for preparing portions of sheet metal to .be'welded edge to edge comprising, in combination, a stationery and a cooperating movable diemernber for. deforming the cross-sectional contour of a portion including an edge to be welded; and a workholder having means for aligning the portions and for holding a portion to be deformed in proper engagement with the stationary die member.

3. Apparatus for. preparing portions of sheet metal to be welded edge to edge comprising, in combination, cooperating die membersfor deforming the cross-sectional-mntour of' said portions including the edges to be welded; and a workholder having means for aligning the portions and for holdingthem in a position to be operated upon bythedie-members.

4.. Apparatus for preparing portions of, sheet metal to be welded edge to edge comprising, in

proper engagementwith the stationary die member. v

5. .Apparatus for preparing the end portionsof an open ring of sheet metal to be'welded edge to edge comprising, in combination, cooperating die members for deforming the cross-sectional contour of an end portion including an edge to be welded; and means for supporting they open ring,

for aligning the end portions thereof and for holding an end portion to be deformed in a position to be operated upon .by the die members;

6. Apparatus for preparing the ,end portions portion including an edge to be'welded; and" means' for supporting the open ring, for'aligning theend portions thereof and for holding an, end portion to be deformed in properiengagement.

with the stationary die member.

"7. Apparatus for preparing the end portions of an open ring of sheet metal to be welded edge to edge comprising, in combination, a stationary and a cooperating movable die member for deforming the cross-sectional contour of said end portions including the edges to be welded;v and J means for supporting the open ring, for aligning the end portions thereof and for holding the j a same in proper engagementwith' the stationary die member.

8. Apparatus for preparing corrugated portions 1' of sheet metal to be welded edge to edgecomprising, in combination, cooperating members for trimming'the edges to be welded of said portions and for deepening the corrugations thereof; and

a workholder having means for'aligning the portions and for holding the same in a position 'to'be I operated upon by the members. o

9. Apparatus for preparing corrugated portions of sheet metal to be welded edge to edge'compris- 10. Apparatus for preparing the corrugated end-portions of an open ring of sheet metal to be welded edge to edge comprising, in combina tion, cooperating members for trimming the edges to be welded'of said end portions andvfor deepening the corrugations thereof ;v and. means for supporting the open ring, for aligning the end portions thereof, and for holding the same in a position to be operated upon by the members. x 1

11. Apparatus for preparing the corrugated end portions of an open ring of sheet metalito be welded edge to edge comprising, in combination, a stationary and a cooperating movable die and trimming memberfontrimmingthe edges 7 to be welded of said end portions and for deepening the corrugations thereof; :and means for supporting the open ring, for aligning the end.

portions thereof and for holding the same in proper engagement with the stationary die and trimming member. f

12.-Apparatus for preparing the corrugated end portions of an open ringofsheet metal to be weldededge to edge comprising, in combination, cooperating members for l trimming the edges to .be welded of said end portions and for deepening the corrugations thereofj an arbor receiving the greater peripheral DOItiOIL-Of the open ring with its end portions aligned and 10- cated adjacent the members; and means fo 10 forming the cross-sectional contour of an end a 13. Apparatus for preparing the corrugated end portions of an open ring of sheet metal to be welded edge to edge comprising, in combination, cooperating members for trimming the edges to be welded of said end portions and for deepening the corrugations thereof; an arbor receiving the greater peripheral portion of the open ring with its end portions aligned and located adjacent the members; and a plurality of arcuate members for clamping the open ring to the arbor.

14. Apparatus for preparing the corrugated end portions of an open ring of sheet metal to be welded edge to edge comprising, in combination,

a stationary and a cooperating movable die and trimming member for trimming the edges. to be welded of said end portions and for deepening the corrugations thereof; an arbor receiving the greater peripheral portion of the open ring; and means for clamping the open ring to the arbor,

said stationary die and trimming member being so associated with the arbor that the end portions of the open ring are in proper engagement with said stationary die and trimming member when said ring is clamped against the arbor.

- 15. Apparatus-for preparing the corrugated end portions of an open ring of sheet metal to be welded edge to edge comprising, i i-combination, a stationary and a cooperating movable vdie and trimming member for trimming the edges*to be weldedvof said end portions and for deepening the corrugations thereof; an arbor merging into the stationary die and trimming member and adapted to receive the greater peripheral portion of the open ring; andmeans for clamping the open ring to the arbor, said stationary die and trimming member. being so associated with the arbor that the end portions of the open ring are in proper engagement with said stationary die and trimming member whensaid ring is clamped against the arbor. r

16. Apparatus for preparing the corrugated end portions to be welded edge to edge of an open sheet metal ring of a curved cross-sectional contour comprising, in combination, a stationary and a cooperating movable die and trimming member for trimming the edges to be welded of said end portions and for deepening the corrugations thereof, the stationary member having surfaces corresponding to the cross-sectional contour of the open ring and adapted to support and align the end portions of said ring; an arbor of cylindrical shape merging intothe stationary die and trimming member and adapted to be engaged by the diametrically smallest peripheral edge of the open ring; and means for forcing the open ring into engagement with the arbor, said stationary die and trimming member being so associated with the arbor that the end portions of the open ring are forced into engagement with the supporting surfaces of said stationary die and trimming member when said ring is forced into engagement with the arbor.

17. Apparatus for preparing the corrugated end portions to be welded edge to edge of an open sheet metal ring of a curved cross-sectional contour comprising, in combination, a stationary and a cooperating movable die and trimming member for trimming the edges to be welded of said end portions and for deepening the corrugations thereof, the stationary member having surfaces corresponding to the cross-sectional contour of the open ring and adapted to support and align the end portions of said ring; an arbor of cylindrical shape merging into the stationary die and trimming member and adapted to be engaged by the diametrically smallest peripheral edge of the open ring; and a pluralityof movable arcuate members for forcing the open ring into engagement with the arbor, said stationary die and trimming member being so associated with the arbor that the end portions of the open ring are forced into engagement with the supporting surfaces of said stationary die and trimming member when said ring is forced into engagement with the arbor.

18. Apparatus for preparing the corrugated end portions to be welded edge to edge of an open sheet metal ring of a curved cross-sectional contour comprising, in combination, a stationary and a cooperating movable die and trimming member 7 for trimming the edges to be welded of said end portions and for deepening the corrugations thereof, the stationary member having surfaces corresponding to the cross-sectional contour'of the open ring and adapted to support and properly align the end portions of said ring; an arbor of cylindrical shape merging into the stationary die and trimming member and adapted to be engaged by the diametrically smallest peripheral edge of the open ring; and a plurality of pivotally mounted arcuate members for forcing the open ring into engagement with the arbor, said stationary die and trimming member being so associatedwith the arbor that the end portions of the open ring are forced into engagement with r 

